Announcements
Tuesday, January 10th, 7:30 P.M. at the West Barnstable Community Building on Route 149. Our meeting will center around equipment and uses. It is meant to be a roundtable discussion so that all members can share their experiences of the past year. What worked for you? What was a fiasco? Need a new type of feeder? Bring in your questions, inventions, and photos.

Bee School 2006
It is hard to believe that another year is upon us, and so too, is another Bee School. This year, due to scheduling conflicts at the West Barnstable Community Building, Claire has secured the use of the Whelden Memorial Library, just across Lombard Ave from the W.B.C.B., on the second and fourth Thursdays of January, February and March. The schedule for that period is listed below. We remind all members in good standing that they may attend bee school sessions at no charge.

Saturday, March 18th, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, in Leicester, MA, the Worcester County Beekeepers are hosting Jennifer Berry, Apiary Research Coordinator at the University of Georgia. Jen is a great speaker, a favored presenter at the E.A.S. conferences, and this year’s E.A.S. President. Her topics are “The New World of Beekeeping” and “Queens and their Drones”. Her presentations begin at 9 A.M.
There is no charge for this meeting. For more info, go to: http://HoneyBeeClub.org

Saturday, March 25th, at the Univ of Albany, Uptown Campus, S.A.B.A.’s Annual Spring Seminar will be held from 9 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Speakers will include Jim Bobb, President, PA Beekeeper’s, Larry Connor, WicWas Press, Tony Jadczak, Maine Apiary Inspector, Aaron Morris, SABA member & owner of Bee-L, and Robert Sheehan, CT meadmaker. Cost is $25 per person, or $40 per couple. This is always a very good program. Preregistration requested, Walkins add $5. Further Details, Anne Frey SABA@capital.net

Holiday Marketplace
Our annual Holiday Marketplace was the best ever! More vendors plus more gifts helped more members with their holiday shopping. Congrats to Shelly Bancer for her First Place Amber Honey! Perhaps next year we might invite members to bring their honey for testing and forego competition

Claire's Corner
Wasn’t it great to see the bees flying on December 24th & 25th ! 53 degrees! Yes! All that spotting will help cut down the incidences of Nosema. The bees can re-cluster around the available stores and fondant when the temperature drops. But keep checking those stores and that weight.

What a bonus in the December ’05 Bee Culture! The calendar not only had top-notch photography, but many useful and timely tips. We are attempting to purchase copies for our “newbees”. And read on for one of their tips. If you want to get a little more sophisticated with your hive stand, and the ol’ back is creaky, build a new one out of scrap pressure-treated 2x8, or 2x12. But, double the size so that as you work the hive, the supers and shallows can occupy the empty space, not be scattered on the ground, and safe some lifting.

With a little luck, we will again attempt to raise our own queens. Santa brought a couple of grafting tools for the stocking. Mike Palmer of Vermont tells us how easy it is. We shall see!

The National Honey Board (NHB) newsletter, “The Nucleus” just arrived. To benefit us all, they are always searching for new markets and uses for honey. This is one for all you dog lovers. Squirt some honey on the dog’s coat as the dog is being shampooed. It leaves the coat with a nice sheen, feeling better and easier to comb. Humm, great for a squirmy two-year old?

The Osterville Comments
Armstrong-Kelley Park will glow until January 5th with six reindeer, Liam's Train, The Hospice Tree of Memories and over 1200 personalized planks all illuminated from dusk until dawn. The deer and the train go to bed at 11:00 PM. We have 10,000 lights. A circulating brook and a cobble fountain tumble over ice laden stones in the winter, but flow all year. The bees are all cuddling snug in their hive hopin' St. Nick may be late but arrive. They've been fed Claire's fondant to have sugar plums dance in their heads and Paul's black wrap helps them to be warm in their beds. We can't be religious, politics we fear so from A-K Park's Grumpy Old Men, have a Happy New Year!!!!

As for teaching others, we are still starting to learn. Carl Mongé & Ray White

Fondant Candy Recipe
Microwave Recipe (feeds 1 or 2 colonies)

1. In a 1 quart or larger microwave dish, thoroughly mix 1 & ½ cups granulated sugar and ½ cup light corn syrup. No water.
   
2. Microwave on high, stirring every few minutes until the mixture is clear and bubbles become thumbnail size (about 10 minutes). Stop immediately if the mixture starts to brown. A wooden spoon Is very effective for stirring, as it can be left in the dish during cooking.
   
3. Pour into a mold made from cardboard or a container lined with paper to cool. The candy will become brittle and can be slipped on top of frames where the bees will consume it.

Stovetop Recipe (makes nine 5” x 6” pieces)

1. Mix 5# granulated sugar, 1 pint corn syrup, 1 & 1/3 cups of water in a large pot.
   
2. Hold over medium heat to 240 d on a candy thermometer. VERY IMPORTANT TO HOLD THE 240 F.
   
3. Stir only occasionally, it takes a while.
   
4. At 240 , place the pot in a sink of cold water.
   
5. Change the water a few times.
   
6. Beat with a mixer, cooling the mixture to 190
   
7. Pour onto greased (Pam) cookie sheets to ¼ inch thick
   
8. Cool and slice into patties
   

Classifieds
FOR FREE- Having a deck re-done, and we have lots of P.T. 2” x 6” lumber too good to throw away. Great for hive stands. Call Paul at 888-2304

If you have anything bee-related to sell, or wish to purchase, this is the place to list it. Call Paul at 888-2304 or email to beekeeper@gis.net.